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Mr Cheema also believes cutting off the demand from those who then buy from crooks is just as important in the ongoing fight.

The shop owner, who has been at the store in Tile Hill for around two-and-a-half years, told the Telegraph: “It’s been happening three, four or five times a day - it’s the same offenders and it’s just getting ridiculous.

“It has been working but it makes it uncomfortable for the 99.9 per cent of customers who are fine. Why should I have to lock my stock away because of just four or five individuals.

“We tried taking pictures of them but that didn’t deter them. We tried putting alarms on for every time they opened the doors, but that didn’t bother them either.

Paul & Pinda Cheema (Image: Craig Eccleston)

“My manageress got that annoyed that she went out at 6.30pm to try and find a DIY store and came back with two bike locks.”

It is thought that many of the thieves are stealing items to then sell on to others.

And Paul says that those who do buy from crooks are putting themselves at a real health risk - as well as at risk from the law.

“The bigger message to spread is around contamination of fresh produce,” he said.

“It has to be covered and kept at a certain temperature, and the people who are robbing us to them sell the produce to feed their habits...you don’t know what they have had in their pockets.